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Spacetaker ARC Workshop

Funding Strategies for the

Individual Artist 3.0 Grants

Contributions

Fiscal Sponsorship

Thinking outside the box

With Jenni Rebecca Stephenson, Fresh Arts

Jerry Ochoa, Two Star Symphony

Money is ALWAYS the issue.

So, where do you find it?

This presentation will focus on:

Grant-seeking

Fiscal Sponsorship

Contributions

Crowdfunding

Let’s take a moment to check ourselves.

A quote:

“I think we need to dispel the myth of the

financially comfortable artist in the Houston

community. Or anywhere, really. All of the most

prominent and successful artists I know teach,

have day jobs, or have other sources of income.

There are only a rare few who live off their art

alone. It’s important to understand that– anything

else sets you up for disappointment.”

- A successful Houston artist

Know your strengths

…and weaknesses

Your answers will help shape

your strategy

If you answered yes to the first few

questions (i.e. you feel comfortable

“working it”), your tactics need to be

different than someone who would prefer

writing a dissertation!

A comprehensive strategy is ideal. But given the demands on your time

(time better spent in a studio or

practice room), you need to prioritize based on

your

skill set and instincts.

Let’s start with the good written

communicators…

Grants.

Types of support:

•Public

•Private

•Direct

•Indirect

Grants…

Grants usually come from private foundations or from

governmental agencies. (Direct)

OR from contracted organizations who function as a

gateway for other (often governmental) funding-

i.e. Houston Arts Alliance. (Indirect)

*There is usually more indirect support available for

individual artists than direct.

Why do funders… fund?• Award artistic achievements

• Foster emerging artists as they develop their skills

• To support specific projects

• Who’s going to benefit?

• How much money will you need?

• What types of support do you need?

• And are you comfortable with the conditions?

And what are you trying to

accomplish anyways?

Your strategy depends on relationship between the

grant’s purpose (the funder’s desired outcome) &

your traits/work

Consider:

• Discipline or medium

• Does your work cater to a specific audience?

• Background and affiliation (career stage?)

• Location

• Ethnicity/gender

What is your best angle?Examples: Doris Duke & Lydia Hance /

Amegy Bank & Winter Holiday Art Market

Identifying Grant Opportunities

One word:

GOOGLE.

Be specific in your queries. Start narrow, then

open up your criteria.

“individual artist grants Houston Texas” will obtain

better results than “arts grants”

Specificity will help narrow down the results to

those for which you’re ELIGIBLE.

Identifying Grant OpportunitiesThere are MANY clearing houses for grant information

(local arts agencies, service organizations like Fresh

Arts, professional associations, etc.).

Pro? They weed out the less

desirable opportunities.

Con? A lot of their information can

be incorrect and/or outdated.*

* We do the best we can!

Shortcuts? Not really.

Best resources will be specific to each artist.

Remember: there are no one-stop shops!

Dedicate a few hours to research at least every 2 months

or so. (Make it a habit!)

Sign up for every artist resource newsletter you can find.

(Create a junk email address for this & discipline yourself

to check it once every 2 weeks.)

Create Google alerts for potential grants.

Create a binder/calendar of potential grant opportunities

with tabs for each (organize by submission deadline &

proposal format)

Seriously?

…OK, fine. Here are a few good ones.

Creative Capital http://creative-capital.org/ (sporadic cycles)

United States Artists http://www.unitedstatesartists.org/ (must be nominated)

National Performance Network http://www.npnweb.org/ (touring support)

The Foundation Center http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/individuals/

The Foundation Center subscription service ($20/month)

http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/fundingsources/gtio.html

(May be available at local libraries: http://grantspace.org/Find-Us )

Sign up for alerts: http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/

NYFA Source: http://source.nyfa.org/content/search/search.aspx?SA=1

Art Deadlines List: http://artdeadlineslist.com/ (old school)

Chicago Artist Resource: http://www.chicagoartistsresource.org/callforartists

Mira’s List https://www.facebook.com/miraslist

Sample search through NYFA Source

And for a moderate investment ($75)…

remember, time is money.

* Again, some of

these resources

are available in

your local library

or at the United

Way!

Consider timelines.

…And how they relate to your motivation.

Are you searching for a grant to fund a specific

project you already have in mind? (And is it

time-sensitive?)

Are you open to the project parameters

dictated by the funder?

Grant cycles can be as long as 1-2

years ahead.

Example… Individual artist grants from the

Houston Arts Alliance

GRANT TERM: May 1, 2014–June 30, 2015

Dec 2013: Application & Materials Due

Jan 2014: Project/Fellowship Panel Review

May 2014: Award Notification

May 2014: Contract, Artist W-9 & Venue Confirmation Due

May/June 2014: 1st Payment

June 2015: Final Report Due (2nd Payment)

Timing of project & grant

payment (budgeting) is key.

Keep in mind that frequently funding is received

AFTER the project is completed, which means the up-

front investment (materials, etc.) is YOUR

responsibility.

Is this a deal-breaker?

Do you have a means to cover these initial

expenses?

Do you have a well-defined budget including all

project costs? (Include marketing expenses & don’t

forget to pay yourself!)

Consider all scenarios.

You’ve applied for the grant, but…

If you are awarded the grant, are you 100% committed to

fulfilling the project?

If awarded a portion of the funds requested, are you still

committed?

Are your collaborators 100% confirmed?

Is the venue confirmed?

If project involves others, consider drafting a

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Research!

Obtain a contact person for the grants which catch your eye

Develop a relationship with funder & contact them in

ways they prefer: Don’t know? Ask!

Some funders post previously funded proposals!

Review previously funded projects

Get an idea of what they’re looking for

Have they already funded a project EXACTLY like

yours?

All disciplines:

Idea Fund (Deadline usually in October)

Houston Arts Alliance Individual Artist Grant

(Deadline usually in December)

Houston Arts Alliance Arts Project Grant-

Outreach (Deadline usually in April)

Houston Arts Alliance Portable On Demand

Art project (NEW- December deadline)

For visual artists:

Hunting Prize (Deadline for submissions

usually in November)

The Big Show (Lawndale: intake in June

usually; also has great residency program)

Artadia Fund (Rotates from city to city; check

website for deadlines)

Houston Center for Photography Fellowship

(Opens in August)

Texas National Art Competition & Exhibition

(Deadline usually in February)

The Clare Hart DeGolyer Memorial Fund / The

Arch & Anne Giles Kimbrough Fund / The Otis

& Velma Davis Dozier Travel Grant

(Dallas Museum of Art: Jan deadline)

For writers:

Poets & Writers (Ongoing deadlines)

NANO Prize (Deadline in September)

Barthelme Prize (Deadline in August)

For dancers:

Weekend of Contemporary Dance (Not

always offered- check website)

Rice Dance Artist in Residence (Deadline in

April)

For musicians:

Ima Hogg Competition

For filmmakers:

Houston Short Film Fund (Deadline in

October)

For help writing the actual proposal…

Resources on grant-writing:

Grant Space (service of the Foundation Center)

http://grantspace.org/Skills/Developing-Proposals

Fresh Arts (Spacetaker) Artist Resource Library

http://www.spacetaker.org/artist_resource_center

Stay tuned for ARC Workshop on grants in September/October 2013…

• Separate yourself from the grant.

• Try to inform, not seduce.

• Lead with your most visionary, distinctive work.

• Don’t try to second-guess a panel by pandering to funding

priorities.*

• Have someone read your proposal.

• If you ever have the opportunity to sit on a panel, do it.

• Always try to get panel feedback (if you’re accepted or rejected).

• Grant panels are filled with master artists, presenters, funders,

and critics.

Written by Andrew Simonet, From Artists U

Another moment of reflection…

• Are the applications too cumbersome or

intimidating?

• Are you worried about the requirements:

tourism or philanthropic components?

• Does it seem like more trouble than it’s worth?

• Do you feel like you have a chance? Are you at

the right level?

• Do you have eligibility concerns?

Eligibility

This is HUGE for individual artists!

Pay careful attention to requirements:

Some won’t fund degree-seeking artists.

Some won’t fund “interpretive” artists.

Some fund only specific aspects of projects.

Some require 501(c)3 status…

What to do about that 501(c)3

status?

Fiscal Sponsorship…is one option.

Definition (from our friends at Wikipedia):

“…the practice of non-profit organizations offering their legal and

tax-exempt status to groups engaged in activities related to the

organization's missions; typically involving a fee-based

contractual arrangement between a project and an established

non-profit.”

Types of Fiscal Sponsorship

Comprehensive Fiscal Sponsorship: Fiscally sponsored

project becomes a “program area” or project of sponsor org.

Pre-approved Grant Relationship Fiscal Sponsorship: Fiscally

sponsored project has its own tax and liability issues; sponsor

oversees only to assure grant/donated funds are used for

specified project.

(most popular variety)

National* organizations who offer fiscal

sponsorship services:

Fractured Atlas www.fracturedatlas.org/

The Field www.thefield.org/

NYFA www.nyfa.org (New York Foundation for the Arts)

*Be careful here! Some (not all) funders want fiscal sponsor in

same state as the granting institution.

The hoops you have to go

through:

All contributions need to be filtered

through your fiscal sponsor (Usually

7-10 day turnaround.)

To apply for grants, you either apply

individually (with a letter of affiliation)

or through a special grant system set

up by the fiscal sponsor

(…Like the Multi-Art Project Fund from the Rockefeller

Foundation)

To read more of the fine print…

Grantspace.org

http://grantspace.org/Skills/Fiscal-Sponsorship

(skill area for fiscal sponsorship)

Examples of policies & guidelines, ways to

approach fiscal sponsors…

http://grantspace.org/Skills/Fiscal-Sponsorship

Side-by-side Comparison of

The Field & Fractured Atlas

Annual

Fees(Membershi

p)

% of

Donations

Taken

Ease of

Use Taxation Grants Benefits

The Field$250+

6% /

$35 fee on

applications

Easy:

Detailed

P&L, but no

receipts

1099 to

artist

No initial

investment

Pro develop-

ment &

services in

NYC; Review of

proposals &

campaigns

Fractured

Atlas $957% up to

$150K

More

Detailed;

receipts

required

1099 to

artist

Must raise

$1,000 to

begin

Pro dev online;

Access to

group health &

liability

insurance

* The policies of these companies are subject to change.

Always double-check their user agreements.

The benefits of Fiscal Sponsorship

Access to grants/services designed for the individual artist (particularly The Field)

A degree of legitimacy (depending on the fiscal sponsor)

Ability to apply for more grants

Access to matching gift funds from corporations

A TAX DEDUCTION for your contributors

The ability to produce work without the burden of nonprofit administration

Additional benefits…The door has now been kicked open to

approach individual funders: philanthropists,

family foundations, etc.

The goes back to the original question:

where do your strengths lie?

If confident in yourself and your work (as

well as have strong interpersonal skills and

network), seeking individual donations is a

good option.

Patronage is NOT dead… patronage simply tends to go to

individual or personality-driven

nonprofits, rather than to unaffiliated

individuals.

a

Fundraising = Friend-raising

Fundraising, whether for a nonprofit or for yourself, is

about RELATIONSHIPS.

Start with your friends.

Your friends, family, and colleagues are the

foundation for a support network. Their support can

also be used to leverage OTHER funds.

Two examples:

Photographer David Brown raised $8,000 to fund his

trip to France for Lens Culture FotoFest Paris to meet

with curators & photo editors

Local band Two Star Symphony raised over $7,000 to

fund studio time to record the score for their

collaboration with Dominic Walsh Dance Theatre

Both almost entirely from individual

contributions!

What do these 2 projects have in

common?

Money was raised for a very specific purpose

Both are generally regarded as creating new,

innovative work

Both have received significant press coverage

Both parties went above and beyond a simple email

appeal

Cultivating advocates to support you and

your work:

Stay in regular contact with those who buy your work or attend

your shows

Communicate with patrons in a way that’s not esoteric,

sophomoric, or needy

Keep it casual and low pressure

When someone does you a favor, thank them (consider small

art gifts)

Explore commissions; they’re a great way to develop

relationships

Think of the long haul

Recognize your champions; treat them as such

Work on developing relationships BEFORE you need

something

Consider that even someone who might not be able to

afford your work might be willing to support you

Developing a supporter base doesn’t happen

overnight. Ask yourself:

“What can I do TODAY to move the ball forward?”

Caveat:Think it’s tacky? Welcome to fundraising!

Most cultural institutions survive on donations. The average

performing arts org only covers 60% of its expenses with sales

revenue.

If working independently, it is likely your situation is no different!

Embrace the reality… And consider that many will happily

support your projects if only asked.

So… I see this a lot.

Crowdfunding

Over the past few years, Houston’s independent

artists have raised over $2 Million dollars on

crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter &

IndieGoGo.

The “little guy” can totally score, too!

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding allows you to present a project to a cultivated

audience to seek funding. It’s an online platform to

aggregate any fundraising efforts.

Popular Options:

• Kickstarter www.kickstarter.com

• IndieGoGo www.indiegogo.com

• Crowdrise www.crowdrise.com/online-fundraising

Crowdfunding is less direct & can make the artist/donor

relationship more comfortable.

Crowdfunding

From Glasstire:

Prompt: A New Hope-- Kickstarter!

• It's great. Artist as entrepreneur. (65%)

• It's digital panhandling. (25%)

• Vox populi, vox dei. (5%)

• To boldly fund where nobody has funded before!

(5%)

What crowdfunding does

Showcases the campaign in a public

forum

Expresses the fundraising campaign’s

need

Presents the fundraising goal

Aggregates & showcases fundraising

activity

Incorporates social media, allowing

donors to engage with & share your

fundraising message

How crowdfunding works

All campaign info lives on crowdsourcing site

Campaign owner (you) designs giving levels &

corresponding “perks” for donations

All donations filtered through site*

Receipts & campaign updates go through site

Crowdsourcing site retains a portion of the proceeds (% to

site, % to any 3rd party processors, etc.)

Funds disbursed after campaign is completed to your

Paypal, Amazon or bank account

* Unless you are utilizing fiscal sponsorship via Fractured Atlas

A comparison

…Kickstarter vs. IndieGoGo

% of donation Benefit for giving If you fail…

Kickstarter 5% (plus CC fees) Agreement b/w

artist & funder

All $ returned to

funders

IndieGoGo 4% if goal met;

9% if goal NOT met

(plus CC fees)

Artist/funder

agreement

(possibility of tax

deduction)

% of funds

retained

*The policies of these companies are subject to change.

Always double-check their user agreements.

How to launch a successful

campaign

(Tips care of Two Star’s Jerry Ochoa)

1. Make a video: low tech is OK! Introduce yourself,

demo the project, explain (briefly/succinctly) why it

matters, & personalize the ask

2. Scale giving categories & incentives to fit fundraising

goal (Don’t aim too low)

3. Assemble a team: Identify advocates for the project &

campaign and give them ownership

4. Maintain momentum: coordinate giving strategically to

maintain appearance of momentum

5. Do the legwork: IndieGoGo is only a tool; blast

through emails, make phone calls, fundraising

receptions, etc.

6. Make donating as convenient as possible: if they say

they’ll donate, make it possible for them to do it NOW

7. Take advantage of Fractured Atlas: the tax donation

can be a great incentive

8. Follow through: campaign allows you to test the

scope of your support; stay on schedule and deliver

both the project & the promised benefits ASAP

Thank them several times & stay in touch!

Be specific.

Patrons want to know the

scope & specifics of the

project.

Visuals and examples speak

volumes.

A defined project and goal is

both actionable and attainable.

Get creative! And

set yourself

apart…

Leverage a successful campaign into a consistent

strategy to cultivate an ongoing network of supporters

and advocates.

And remember, whether it be grants or donations,

consistency & persistence are KEY.

Keep trying!

In your inbox tomorrow

This PowerPoint

Tips for a successful crowdfunding campaign (care of Two

Star Symphony’s Jerry Ochoa)

List of grant resources (Links to articles with Best Practices;

Clearing houses to find opportunities)

Info about upcoming workshops on

Crafting & Understanding Contracts w/ Emily Watts and Erin

Rodgers (Tuesday, May 6, 2014)

Writing for the press w/ Joel Luks, Molly Glentzer, Bill

Davenport (Wednesday, July 9, 2014)

Survey

Spacetaker ARC Workshop